Houthis attacked US Navy ships, US merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden: CENTCOM

US Navy destroyers responded to a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Gulf of Aden as they escorted merchant vessels, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Sunday.

CENTCOM said that USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USS O’Kane (DDG 77) “successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Gulf of Aden, Nov. 30 – Dec. 1.”

It added that the destroyers were escorting three US owned, operated, flagged merchant vessels adding that no vessel or personnel were injured in the attacks.

“The destroyers successfully engaged and defeated three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), three one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel, as well as civilian vessels and their crews,” CENTCOM said.

“These actions reflect the ongoing commitment of CENTCOM forces to protect US personnel, regional partners, and international shipping, against attacks by Iran-backed Houthis.”

Following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Israeli bombardment of Gaza, Yemen’s Houthis began targeting military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which they assessed to have any ties to Israel.

The Houthi attacks have drawn US and British retaliatory strikes and disrupted global trade as ship owners reroute vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal to sail the longer route around the southern tip of Africa.